Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuaryhttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com
Six hundred acre urban wildlife refuge in Green Bay, Wisconsin.Mon, 21 May 2018 15:28:56 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.10spring flowers and birdshttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/spring-flowers-and-birds/
Wed, 16 May 2018 14:36:08 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=6118Birdwatchers are seeing many species of migratory warblers and other species along the trails this week. Some of the spring woodland flowers are finally showing up as well. Trail is muddy in areas, and some standing water in low areas. Enjoy the gorgeous spring!

]]>Frogs callinghttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/frogs-calling/
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 16:31:16 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=6058Yesterday, April 26, was the first day that Wood Frogs were heard calling in Hussong marsh. Trails are muddy and wet in areas, please be careful!
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Thu, 19 Apr 2018 15:37:25 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=6055As of yesterday, the trail was still skiable! The snow will be melting fast, and there is likely to be a lot of mud.

Lots of bird activity even in the snow: Fox Sparrows, Cooper’s Hawks building a nest, Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, sapsuckers, and a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

]]>Help wildlife in your backyardhttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/help-wildlife-in-your-backyard/
Tue, 10 Apr 2018 19:20:38 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=6037You can help the young & adult wildlife in your backyard following these simple guidelines:
 Most wildlife moms do not want to be separated from their young, but they are not always at the nest due to foraging or wanting to avoid predators finding their nests. Just because you find young animals alone, Mom or Dad may be watching you nearby and caring for the nest!
 If you have just opened up your boat or cabin and have young wildlife in a nest, don’t move them—play loud music, open a path (door, window), and walk away—let Mom move the youngsters to a safer and more desirable location!
 If you find a songbird hatchling or nestling on the ground, look around for a nest first! Songbirds do not have a sense of smell but they do have a visual sense of their youngsters. If the young songbird seems healthy, please place the youngster back into the nest.
 Aren’t sure if Mom is returning to the young nest of cottontail rabbits? Place yarn in a tic-tac-toe pattern on top of the nest and flour around the nest; check the nest again in 12 hours and if it has been disturbed, Mom has been there to feed the young rabbits! She only goes to the nest at sunrise and sunset as to not lure predators to the nest. The rabbits leave the nest at approximately 15 days old, so they don’t need the nest for long!
 Does that fawn laying in the grass quietly look healthy but you haven’t seen any adult around the whole time you’ve been watching? Move away from the area and Mom will come over! Fawns laying quietly are usually fine—they are hiding from predators, including humans! Like rabbits, does do not want to lead predators to their young, so they stay near the youngster and lead the fawn away at night when it seems clear and no predators are around. If the fawn is walking around bleating/crying, then he/she may need assistance.
 Never, ever, ever feed wildlife cow’s milk—it will make them very sick as they cannot digest it like most humans can! If you have young wildlife that seems dehydrated, you may be able to give it a small amount of warm water by its mouth—but we recommend you call Animal Care first before giving ANYTHING to keep you and your wild animal safe!
 Have a lot of wild animals in your yard? Consider a brush pile that birds and mammals may hide in! Don’t forget about a water dish for everyone too! If you have feeders in your yard, keep them full—birds nest and establish a territory based on food sources. If you are going on vacation, ask a friend to help keep it full!
 Always keep yourself, your family, and your pets safe with wildlife—all animals can be dangerous whether it is their teeth or talons! Wildlife doesn’t always see us as helpful. Instead–wild animals see humans as predators and will protect themselves by running, attacking, calling out, biting— anything they can do to protect themselves.
 All native Wisconsin wildlife is protected and it is illegal to keep a wild animal in captivity without the proper permits. This includes painted turtles, raccoons, squirrels, mallard ducks, and native songbirds. If you are picking up and transporting an animal to a wildlife rehabilitator, you have 24 hours—please get that animal the help it deserves quickly and safely! We can help you find a licensed rehabilitator!
 A surprise cold snap or ice storm? Consider buying an outdoor plastic heating pad as a heat source for animals in your yard— any conservation of energy helps wildlife through those surprise, late storms.
 If you do have to hold an animal overnight before getting it to WLS or a rehabilitator, please be aware of keeping it warm and safe and not posing it for social media. These animals are scared, may be sick or injured, and just need to be kept quiet and calm so they have the best chance to heal and grow.
If any animal seems sick or injured, always call us in Animal Care at 920.391.3685 and we can find the best way to help you help wildlife! We do everything we can to help each animal that finds his/her way into our rehab program. Sometimes when a wild animal is down on the ground or cannot get away from human capture, it is a sign they are very, very sick or injured. We care about every animal that comes to the Wildlife Sanctuary and we truly appreciate that you care as well.
The more we can work with wildlife to help them heal and let them be wild, the more successful our environment will be and a better place for all of us! We always appreciate your support and thank you for all you do. We hope to see you soon at the Wildlife Sanctuary!
]]>Ski Trail back openhttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/ski-trail-back-open-3/
Fri, 06 Apr 2018 14:37:06 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=6015Trails were groomed for skiing on April 5. Trail is in fair condition, we expect most of the snow to disappear in the sunshine over the next few days.
]]>Birds and Snowhttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/birds-and-snow/
Thu, 05 Apr 2018 14:48:56 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=6013Waterfowl seen along the trail this week include: Buffleheads, all 3 species of mergansers, Blue-winged Teals, American Wigeons, a Lesser Scaup, Northern Shovelers, and a group of 20+ Wood Ducks. A pair of Great Blue Herons, and a couple of Pied-billed Grebes were seen as well as a Great Egret flying over!
]]>Volunteer Spotlighthttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/volunteer-spotlight/
Thu, 01 Mar 2018 19:57:03 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=5924Dana DePetro

Why did you become a WLS volunteer?

I love animals! I have since I was very little! I remember visiting the wildlife sanctuary when I was young and how much I enjoyed it! I remember thinking “I want to volunteer here someday!” I like the idea of volunteering and giving back to the community. My mom calls me “Doctor Dolittle” because I’ve always taken care of animals that we found around the house or that needed some special kind of attention.What do you enjoy about being a WLS volunteer?
I like that I am helping animals and that I get to interact with them. I also like the conversations with the staff and fellow volunteers! Over the years, we’ve become like a family! I love all the animals! The animals do funny things and they always make me laugh! I am always in a good mood when I volunteer at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary!

]]>Trail open for walkinghttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/trail-open-for-walking/
Mon, 19 Feb 2018 16:15:38 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=5877Please use caution walking on the trail, it is open for hiking until there is additional snowfall.
]]>Tracks everywherehttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/tracks-everywhere/
Wed, 14 Feb 2018 14:50:09 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=5864There is not much snow on the trail, conditions for skiing are fair to poor as of Tuesday, Feb. 13. Because the snow cover is light, animal tracks are fairly easy to see! Raccoon, deer, turkey, squirrel, cottontail, vole, deer mouse, and fox tracks are present along the trail.
]]>Trails have snowhttp://www.baybeachwildlife.com/trails-have-snow/
Mon, 05 Feb 2018 16:52:22 +0000http://www.baybeachwildlife.com/?p=5842Trails are snowy again! Please use caution, as there is still a lot of ice under the new fallen snow. As always, remind everyone to please not walk on the ski tracks.
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